Fishing tool



Aug. 26, 1930. L. F. DAVIS .FISHING TOOL Filed May 16, 1928' A TTORNEY.

fl r55? Patented Aug; 26, 1930 V UNITED STATES} LEWIS 1r. DAVIS; or SANTA ANA, CALIFORNIA.

FISHING TOOL Application filed m 1a, 1928. Serial No. 278,074.

This invention is a sucker rod fishing tool of the type embodying a slotted hinged member adapted to swing out of the way to permit the tool being lowered over the cou- 5 pling of a sucker rod and then adapted to return to operative position extending transversely of the tool with the sucker rod ex tending through the slot of the engaging member and the shoulder of the coupling 19 of the rod supported upon the wall of the slot so that a string of sucker rods may be supported by the tool for Withdrawal from a well.

It is an object of the invention to provide a fishing tool of this character which is of extremely sturdy construction and which employs maximum thickness of material compatible with the limitations imposed by the bore of the tubing through 2o which the tool is to be lowered and the external diameter of the sucker rods over which the tool is to be received.

It is another object of the invention to provide a maximum support for the hinged engaging member of the tool, with said support adapted to distribute the weight of the engaging member and the string of sucker rods supported thereby, and so arranged that the hinged connection for the engaging member is relieved entirely of the strain of the suspended weight.

It is a still further object of the invention to employ a hinged engaging member which is of extremely sturdy and mechanical efiicient design, and which is of the maximum thickness of material which will permit passage of the coupling of a sucker rod when the engaging member is swung back out of the way for lowering the" tool over 4 the sucker rod.

It is still anotherobject of the invention to insure-proper alinement of a sucker rod when the tool is lowered over its coupling, in order that the hingedengaging member 'will be free to swing back out of the way for passage of the rod coupling and will then return to operative position without the possibility of binding action as a result of bent sucker rods or the like.

Further objects of the invention will be -may readily understood from the following description of the accompanying drawings, in which: p i

Fig. 1 is a vertical section through well tubing containing a broken sucker rod, and showing the improved fishing tool partly in axial section and being lowered to operative position for engaging the rod.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the tool, partly inaxial section and showing its engaging member swung out of the way for passage of the coupling collar of a broken sucker rod. M

Fig. 3 is a 'similar view showing the engaging member returned to operative position with the shoulder of the coupling collar of a sucker rod resting on the engaging member so that the depending string of sucker rods is supported by the tool.

Figs. 4 and 5 are transverse sections on I the lines 4-4 and 5-5of Figs. 2 and 3.

The fishing tool is adapted to be lowered in usual well tubing A for engaging a broken string of sucker rods, the length of rod at the point of breakage being shown at Band having the usual coupling C of-in creased diameter forming an undercut annular -shoulder D.

The fishing tool in the tubing in usual manner, and for this purpose may be 1 with a usual t readed pin 2 adapted to engage a usual box 3 for 'suspendingthe tool from any usual stem; The lower end of the tool is a hollow annular shell 4 adapted to be lowered over the coupling C of a broken sucker rod, and this hollow shell contains a slotted engaging member adapted to swing back out of the way for passage of coupling C, and then adapted to swing back to operative position extending across the bore of shell 4 with the sucker is adapted to be lowered I rovided at its upper end rod extending through the slot of the en- I gaging member and the shoulder D of the sucker rod coupling resting on the, wall of the slot so that the sucker rod is supported by the tool and the broken string of rods thus be recovered from aw'ell by withdrawing the tool. I

In the present instance the slotted engaging member is shown as mounted on a sleeve 6 which is adapted for threaded reception in the lower end of shell 4, with the inner end of the sleeve forming aseat for the engaging member and the outer end of the sleeve preferably beveled as shown at 8 in order to guide the tool over a sucker rod. The sleeve 6 may be locked in adjusted position by a. jamb nut 9.

The engaging member, shown generally at 10, is slotted at one end. as shown at 11 and has a projecting lug 12 at its opposite end. The lug is hinged by pin 13 between upstanding ears 14 on the inner end of sleeve 6, so that the engaging member normally rests upon the seat formed by the inner end of the sleeve but may be swung back to substantially vertical position, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 respectively. In order to maintain the bore of sleeve 6 of proper diameter to permit passage of the coupling C of a sucker rod and at the same time insure a sturdy support for the engaging member 10, the: bore 15 of the sleeve is eccentric to the bore of shell 4 as shown in Fig. 4, so that the wall of the sleeve is comparatively thin at the point opposite the hinged connection 13, but at said hinged connection is of maximum thickness compatible with passage of coupling G through the bore of the sleeve and the lowering of the tool into usual well tub- Tn order that the engaging member 10 may be sufficiently strong to insure it properly supporting a string of sucker rods, it is of the maximum thickness and of a contour which will allow it to freely swing to operative position extending across the bore of the tool as shown in Fig. 1 and will permit unobstructed passage of coupling G when the engaging member is swung back to inoperative position as shown in Fig. 3. As an instance of this arrangement the engaging member is arched in cross-section as shown in Fig. 4, with its inner arcuate surface 17 adapted to form a continuation of the eccentric bore 15 and its outer arcuate surface 18 conforming to the concentric bore of shell 4 when the engaging member is .swung back to inoperative position. The

medial portion of this outer arcuate surface 18 preferably projects radially outward- 1y to form an enlargement 19, which when t e engaging member is swung back to inoperative position is adapted for reception in a properly positioned aperture 20 in the Wallof shell 4. The outer surface 21 of this radial engagement is preferably curved so as to aline with the exterior surface of :shell 4 when the enlargement is received in the aperture.

The sides 22 of the engaging member 10 are arcuate in plan view as shown in Fig. 5 and conform to the bore of shell 4 so that the engaging member will fit snugly therein when in operative position resting upon the scat formed by the end of sleeve 6. The slotted end 11 of the engaging member preferably terminated short of the wall of bore 15 as shown at 23, so as not to overlie that portion of the end of sleeve 6 which is of minimum thickness; and this portion of the end of the sleeve preferably forms an upstanding lip 21 which merges into the sup porting seat for the engaging member. T he seat formed at the end of sleeve 6 for the engaging member is so arranged as to relieve the hinged connection 13 of the weight which is supported by the engaging member when the shoulder D of a sucker rod rests thereon. For this purpose the inner end of the sleeve is recessed at its opposite sides with the bases of the recesses forn'iing flat abutment surfaces 25 which terminate at their respective ends in inclined abutment surfaces 2627. The ends of the cross-sectionally arched engaging member 10 form flat abutment surfaces 28 adjusted to seat on surfaces 25, with inclined end extensions 29-30 of the flat surfaces 28 adapted to cooperate with and snugly engage the inclined seating surfaces 2627. The engaging member when in operative position as shown in Figs. 1 and 3 is thus adapted to rest firmly on the flat seats .25 with the in clined seats 26-27 relieving the pin 13 of any strain resulting from the weight supported by the engaging member; and the forward inclined seats 26 by forming the walls of lip 24- cooperate there ith to guide the engaging member to its seated operative position.

The slot 11 in the engaging member op ns through its cut-away end 23, and the end of the slot is preferably outwardly flared as shown at 32 in order to guide the sio d engaging menlber as it swings to s position straddling a sucker rod. The inner end of the slot is semi-circular and C(lllfPlT-llfto the exterior surface of a sucker rod with the slot of a width and depth where a sucker rod may pass freely theredirou but the shoulder D of the rod w gauged by and sup i-ortcd by the w. i slot when the engaging member is seated operative position.

Above the aperture 20 the concentric bore of shell 4 preferably merges in o an e tric bore l5 which alin s with the tric bore 15, and this bore 15 is ef a it adapted to receive the coupling (,3 of a 1-. er rod which is supported by its shoulder l) resting on the engaging member 10 sl r-avn in Fig. 3. At its upper end the bore 15 may have ports 35 open ng throi g'h sheil 4 for relieving pressurbo e when the tool is lowered over a. sumrer rod. As a result of alining eccentric bore 15" with eccentric bore 15, the coupling C of a suck-er rod by entering the bore 15 will straighten lit) out any bend in that portion of the rod extending past engaging member and will maintain the rod in a position crowded laterally away from the hinged end of the engaging member as shown in, Figs. 2 and 3,

and consequently the engaging member will swing to operative or inoperative position without the possibility of rod B obstructing its movement.

In operation the jam nut 9 is tightened so as to lock sleeve 6 in a position where the projecting portion 19 of engagingmember 10 will be received in aperture when the engaging member is swung back out of the way, and the tool is lowered into well tubing A so that a broken sucker rod 13 is guided by the beveled end of sleeve (3 into its eccentric bore 15. During lowering of the tool its engaging member 10 is swung by gravity to its seated position as shown in Fig. 1, so that the coupling C of the broken rod will engage the underside of member 10 and swing it back out of the way in order that coupling C may pass the engaging mein-- her and enter the eccentric bore 15--'as shown in Fig. 2. As soon as the coupling C is clearot the engaging member the latter rcturns by gravity to its seated operative po-' sition straddling the sucker rod B .as shown 1 in Fig. 3, in which position the shoulder D of the rod is engaged by the wall of slot 11 so that therod issupported by and suspended from the tool. The broken string of rods may then be withdrawn with the fishing tool.

The improved construction provides a maximum support for the engaging member 10 and seats the engaging member so as to relieve ltS hinged construction of all strain;

\ and the engaging member is of the maximum strength and thickness which is compatible with its adaptationto a tool restricted in exterior and interior diameter by the necessity for it entering the space between a I sucker rod and the wall of well tubing. The

construction also provides for guiding the sucker rod in its movement past the engaging member 10 so as to eliminate the possibility of the rod tending tobend and thereby hold the engaging member against swinging movement to operative and inoperative position.

I have thus provided an extremely practical fishing tool, which is of simplified but sturdy construction adapted for reliable operation to engage and support a broken string of sucker rods for withdrawing the same from well tubing.

I claim:

1. A fishing tool comprising a. sleeve having an eccentric bore, and an engaging member pivoted at-the thick side of the sleeve and adapted to extend across the bore or swing back substantially parallel to the bore,

the said engaging member. being adapted for.

projection of a rod pastthe same with a shoulder on the rod resting on and supported by the engaging member when the engaging member extends across the bore.

2. A fishing tool comprising a shell having a concentric bore, an annular seat in the bore of the shell with the central opening which is defined by said annular seat eccentric tothe outer periphery of the annular seat, and an engaging member. pivoted at the thick side of the seat and adapted to ex.- tend across the concentric bore and rest upon the seat orswung back with the concentric bore above the thick side of the seat, the said engaging member being adapted for projection of a rod past the same with a shoulder on the rod resting on and supported by the engaging member when the engaging member extends across the concentric bore.

3. A fishing tool comprising a shell having a concentric bore, a sleeve extending into the end of the shell, said sleeve having an eccentric bore, and an engaging member pivoted on the inner end of the sleeve atits thick side and adapted to extend across the concentric bore and rest upon the end of the sleeve or swing back into the concentric bore above the thick side of the end of the sleeve, the said engagin member being adapted for projection o a rod past the same with a shoulder on the rod resting on and supported by the engaging member when the engaging member extends across the concentric bore.

4. A fishing tool comprising a shell, an annular seat in the bore of the shell with the central opening which is defined-by said annular seat eccentric to the outer periphery of the annular seat, and an engaging member pivoted to the thick side of the annular seat and adapted to extend across the bore and rest upon the seat or swing back in the bore above the seat, the said engaging member being adapted for projection of a rod past the same with a shoulder on the rod resting on and supported by the engaging ;member when the engaging member extends across the bore, and the engaging member and its sea-t having cooperating abutment surfaces so disposed as to relieve the pivotedmounting for the engagingmember of the strain of the weight of the rod supported by the I engaging member. V.

5. A fishing tool comprising a shell, a'seat in the bore of'the shell and a pivoted en' clined abutment surfaces adapted to relieve the pivoted mounting for the engaging member of the strain of the weight of the rod supported by the engaging member.

6. A fishing tool comprising a shell, a seat in the bore of the shell and a pivoted engaging member adapted to extend across the bore and rest upon the seat or swing back in the bore above the seat, the said engaging memher being adapted for projection of a rod past the same with a shoulder on the rod resting on and supported by the engaging member when the engaging member extends across the bore, and the engaging member and its seat having cooperating inclined abutment surfaces adapted to relieve the pivoted mounting for the engaging member of the strain of the weight of the rod supported by the engaging member.

7. A fishing tool comprising a. shell. a seat in the bore of the shell. and a p voted engag ing member adapted to extend across the bore and rest upon the seat or swing back in the bore above the seat the said en aging member being adapted for project on of a rod past the same with a shoul er on the rod resting on and supported by the cngaging member when the engaging member extends across the bore, and the sat for the engaging member having an upstanding lip in front of the swinging end of the QIl},PD.;IlIl f{' member.

8. A fishing tool comprising a shell, a se in the bore of the shell and a pivoted (ho-of"- ing member adapted to extend across the bore and rest upon the seat or swing back in the bore above the seat, the said engag iw member being adapted for projection of a rod past the same with a. shoulder on the rod resting on and supported by the engaging member when the engaging member extends across the bore. and the engag ng member and its seat having cooperating incl ned abutment surfaces sloping upwardly re pectively toward the pivoted end and the swinging end of the engaging member.

9. A fishing tool comprising a shell having a concentric bore, an annular seat in the bore of the shell with the central opening? wh ch is defined by said annular seat eccentric to the outer periphery of the annular seat. and an engaging member pivoted at the thick side of the seat and adapted to extend aer: the concentric bore and rest upon the seat or swung back with the concentric bore above the thick side of the seat, the raid engaging member being adapted for projection of a rod past the same with a shoulder on the roll resting on and supported by the engaging member when the engaging member etend across the concentric bore, and the engagitua member and its seat having cooperatiinr abutment surfaces so disposed as to relieve the'pivoted mounting for the engaging member of the strain of the weight of the rod supported by the engaging member.

10. A fishing tool comprising a shell, a. seat in the bore of the shell, and a pivoted engaging member adzipted to extend across the bore and rest upon the seat or swing back in the bore above the seat, the said engaging member being adapted for projection of a rod past the same with the rod resting on and sunooiited by the enguginn member when the engaging member extends across the bore. and the engaging member being arched in cross section.

11. A fishing tool. comprising an annular seat and a pivoted engaging member adapted to extend across and rest upon the seat or swing back out of the wav above the seat,

the said engaging member being adap ed ior ])1()]Cl'.l011 of a rod past the 5 .me with a shoulder on the rod resting on and supported by the engaging member when the enga ing member extends across ti... I and the eiigzujriiig member being arched in cross-section with its inner arcuatc surf adapted for alinem cut. with the contra? op ing defined bv the annular seat when t enga ing member is swung back out of the way.

12. A fishing tool. comprising a shell an annular seat in the bore of the shell, and pivoted ei'igaging member ada ted to ex tend across the bore and rest upon the seat or swin back in the bore above the seat, the said engaging member being adapted for projection of a rod past the same with a shoulder on the rod resting on and supported by the engaging member when the engaging member extends across the bore, and the engaging member being arched in cross-section with its outer arcuate surface conforming to the curve of the bore of the shell when the engaging member is swung back in the bore above the seat.

13. A fishing tool comprising a shell hava. concentric bore, an annular seat in the bore of the shell with the central opening which is defined by said annular seat eccentric to the outer periphery of the annular seat, and an engaging member pivoted at the thick side of the seat and adapted to extend across the concentric bore and rest upon the seat or swung back with the concentric bore above the thick side of the seat, the said engaging member being adapted for projection of a rod past the same with a shoulder on the rod resting on and supported by the member when the engaging memtends across the concentric bore, and the engaging member being arched in crossscetion with its inner arcuate surface adapted for alinement with the inner periphery of the annular seat and its outer arcuate surface conforming to the curve of the concentric bore of the shell when the engaging member is swung back out of the way.

14. A fishing tool comprising a shell, an annular seat in the bore of the shell with the central opening which is defined by said annular seat eccentric to the outer periphery of the annular seat, and an engaging member pivoted to the thick side of the annular seat and adapted to extend across the bore and rest upon the seat or swing back in the bore above the seat, the said engaging member being adapted for projection of a rod past the same with a shoulder on the rod resting on and supported by the engaging member when the engaging member extends across the bore, and the shell having an aperture therein above the seat adapted to receive the engaging member when it is swung back in the bore above the seat.

15. A fishing tool comprising a shell having a concentric bore, a sleeve extending into the end of the shell, said sleeve having an eccentric bore, and an engaging member pivoted on the inner end of the sleeve at its thick side and adapted to extend. across the concentric bore and rest upon the end of the sleeve or swing back into the concentric bore above the thick side of the end, of the sleeve, the said engaging member being adapted for projection of a rod past the same with a shoulder on the rod resting on and supported by the engaging member when the engaging member extends across the concentric bore, and the shell having an aperture therein above the seat adapted to receive the engaging member when it is swung back in the concentric bore above the seat.

16. A fishing tool comprising a shell, a seat in the bore of the shell, and a pivoted engaging member adapted to extend across the bore and rest upon the seat or swing back in the bore above the seat, the said engaging member being adapted for projection of a rod past the same with a shoulder on the rod resting on and supported by the engaging member when the engaging member extends across the bore, said engaging member having an arcuate outer surface with a projecting enlargement medially of its arc, and the said shell having an aperture therein above the seat, the arcuate outer surface of the engaging member conforming to the curve of the bore of the shell and the projecting enlargement being received in said aperture when the engaging member is swung back in the bore above the seat.

17. A fishing tool comprising a shell, a sleeve threaded in the bore of the shell and forming a seat at its inner end, a pivoted engaging member adapted to extendacross the bore and rest upon the seat or swing back in the bore above the seat, the said engaging member being adapted for projection of a rod past the same with a shoulder on the rod therein above the seat adapted to receive the engaging member when it is swung back in the'bore above the seat, andmeans for look ing the threaded engagement between the shell and sleeve with said aperture alined to receive the engaging member.

18. A fishing tool comprising a shell, an annular seat in the bore of the shell with the central opening which is defined by said annular seat eccentric to the outer periphery of the annular seat, and an engaging member pivoted to the thick side ofthe annular seat and adapted to extend across the bore and rest upon the seat or swing back in the bore above the seat, the said engaging member being slotted at its swinging end for projection of a rod through the slot with a shoulder on the rod resting upon and supported by the wall of the slot when the engaging member extends across the bore.

19. A fishing tool comprising a shell having a concentric bore merging at its upper end into an eccentric bore whereby the shell seat in the concentric bore with the central opening which is defined by said annular seat eccentric to the outer periphery of the annular seat and alining with the eccentric bore of the shell, and an engaging member pivoted at the thick side of the annular seat and adapted to extend across the concentric bore of the'shell and rest upon the seat or swing back in the concentric bore of the shell above the seat.

20. A fishing tool comprising a shell having a concentric bore merging at its upper end into an eccentric bore, a seat in the concentric bore spaced below the eccentric bore,

and a pivoted engaging member adapted to extend across the concentric bore and rest LEWIS F. DAVIS.

resting on and supported by the engaging member when the engaging member extends across the bore, the shell having an aperture 'at said eccentric bore has a thick side and a diametrically opposite thin side, an annular 

